Six unexpected names to watch in the Strade Bianche 2026 finale

Saturday features Strade Bianche 2026 on the calendar, where Tadej Pogačar is the overwhelming top favorite. His own team also includes riders like Jan Christen and Isaac Del Toro, while Tom Pidcock, Paul Seixas, Romain Grégoire, and Matteo Jorgenson are the main challengers. In the tier below, there's room for surprises. For riders in form like Gianmarco Garofoli, Diego Pescador, Simon Gualdi, and Jelle Johannink that seems a bit much, while Tibor Del Grosso has not yet set this race as a target. Who could surprise? WielerFlits lists them.

At Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling, all eyes will be on Tom Pidcock. As a former winner and last year's runner-up, that’s only natural. But it’s likely that this year he’s better supported in the finale than last year. Quinten Hermans is in good shape; he joined Pidcock for a pre-season training camp at altitude in Chile. Last year the 30-year-old Belgian finished fifteenth in Strade Bianche and ended the season with a win at Serenissima Gravel. Last month, he was also fourteenth on the gravel of the Clásica Jaén and finished fourth in the Faun-Drôme Classic.

He might slot better alongside Garofoli from the introduction, but we’re happy to be surprised by the 21-year-old Spanish talent from NSN Pro Cycling. Pau Martí scored his first pro victory last year in the Tour of Portugal. Cycling followers know that Martí can accelerate powerfully. Last week he also won a punchy sprint finish in the Tour of Rwanda. He finished sixth in the U23 World Championships there last fall. That might not impress everyone, but Martí also took third in the Figueroa Classic last month, behind in-form riders António Morgado and Alex Aranburu.

Paul Seixas is the biggest asset at Decathlon CMA CGM, but don’t underestimate Paul Lapeira either. The 25-year-old Frenchman missed the entire 2025 spring campaign due to injury, but both the previous season and last fall proved he can definitely compete for wins in races like this. In theory, a top 10 placing is likely at Strade Bianche, and that’s certainly within reach. Lapeira — along with the entire Decathlon squad — is in excellent form. He finished second in the Étoile de Bessèges, won the Tour des Alpes-Maritimes, and was fifth at the Drôme Classic.

Andrea Vendrame has raced on the sterrati in Tuscany seven times. Twice he didn’t finish, but in all other editions he placed between 26th and 16th. The 31-year-old Italian has proven he can compete well through the early finale. So why might he go further this time? Well, last year he recorded his best result with sixteenth place. This past winter he moved from Decathlon AG2R to Jayco AlUla, and here he is: Vendrame is having one of his best season starts. He’s already made the top 7 in a one-day race five times this year. Will Strade follow?

Last weekend, Albert Withen Philipsen made his season debut at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. He finished 112th in his baptism of fire. On Saturday, the Danish top talent (19) rides his second Strade Bianche. He already finished 25th there last season, a strong result. Now a year older and with a mountain bike background, he faces a course in Tuscany that should suit him perfectly. We don’t put too much stock in his Omloop performance, as it was mainly a learning experience. Now he’s been assigned bib number 81. That says a lot.

Another rider in strong form is Filippo Zana. The former Italian champion switched last winter from Jayco AlUla to Soudal-Quick Step. That move has paid off. He was eighth at the Tour Down Under, seventh in the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, and last week won the Giro di Sardegna after claiming two stages in the penultimate day. Two years ago, Zana finished ninth in Strade Bianche. Given his current form, he might well improve on that result. And yes, we know the competition is fierce.